Attachment for dental tools



Oct. 6, 1 931. 1 w MARGULIEs 1,825,880

ATTACHMENT FOR DENTAL TOOLS Filed Jan. 25, 1929 lavme W. MARcruuEs, INVENTOR I ATTORNEY Fatentecl Oct. 6, 1931 wa -saw IRVING W. MAR-GULIES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ATTACHLIENT 1 GB; DENTAL TOOLS Application filed January 25, 1929. Serial No. 334,970.

This invention relates generally to improvements in attachments for dental tools and has reference particularly to a mouth guard and stone moistener for the hand enl5 gine or drill.

According to present methods of practicing dentistry, where the use of a stone becomes necessary, it is customary to manipulate the hand engine with one hand while the other 16 hand carries a mirror which is manipulated so as to hold back the tongue and flesh of the mouth from interfering with the use of the tool. In conditions requiring almost constant use of a stone, a jet of water must be directed against the stone to prevent overheating. An assistant usually directs the jet of water while the dentist with both hands guides the stone and mirror. It goes without saying that very little efliciency is possible Where so many hands are necessary to carry on the work in so restricted an area as the human mouth, and that a really ideal condition under which to work would be one in which the hand manipulating the stone or drill could also hold the tongue and flesh of the mouth at a safe distance from the tool, while the other hand could be used to advantage in other ways, such as to steady the head of the patient or if necessary to hold a mirror in the 39 most efficient position to cast reflected light on the very spot being treated.

With the foregoing in mind, it is the purpose of the present invention to provide an attachment for the hand engine which not only acts as a guard to hold off parts of the flesh of the mouth from coming into contact with the rapidly rotating stone, but is provided with means for applying moisture to the stone during manipulation of the hand engine without removing the stone from the mouth or even discontinuing the operation on the work.

I accomplish this purpose by means of a device hereinafter described in detail, set forth in the appended claims and illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a dental hand engine with my improved guard and moistener attached; Figure 2 is an elevational view of the same looking toward the under side; Figure 3 is a substantially transverse sectional view of the stone and guard taken on line 33 of Figure 1, Fi ure a is a front elevational view of an individual moistening pad; and Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the pad taken on lines 5--5 of Figure 4:. I Referring to the drawings, denotes the handle of the hand engine and 11 the tip or sleeve which embraces the chuck for engaging the tools, in the present instance a stone 12. In practice the stem 13 of the different grades and sizes of stones 12 are of different lengths so that the position of the stone 12 from the end of the tip 11 may vary with different tools. This condition is mentioned because to arrange a guard for the stone or drill, provision must be made for adjustment of the guard.

According to the present invention, one embodiment thereof, comprises a split collar 13 adapted to clamp about a portion of the tip 11 and provided with a spring arm 14 which projects upwardly and forwardly in the direction of thestone 12. The outer end of the arm 1-4 carries an integral cross guard piece 15 which is curved in an are from end to end and has its opposite sides on the curve bent downwardly and inwardly to a slight degree to form a channel. The end of the curved channel piece 15 in the direction of rotation of stone 12 is turned downwardly the depth of the sides to form a stop 16.

When the guard piece 15 is arranged in position it is directly over the upper half of the stone 12 from which it is normally held separated by a short space. The sides of the guard 15 receive and embrace an individual pad or felt piece 17 which is mounted on a length of cord braid 18, the latter being of sufficient thickness to slide along the channel with its sides engaged by the inwardly turned ends of the side. The stop 16 prevents the pad 17 from being driven out of the channel when the spring arm 14 yields under pres sure to bring the felt into contact with the revolving stone. The pads 17 are moistened when placed in the holder or guard piece 15 so that by merely lifting the handle 10, the guard itself will be brought into contact with a portion of the patients mouth and under continued pressure the arm 1% yields until the periphery of the stone 1:2 brushes the moistened felt whereupon the heat accumulated in the stone is quickly dissipated.

The ease with which a pad may be removed from the holder and replaced by a new one after being used on a patient is an important feature from a sanitary standpoint.

m The guard being positioned above the stone or drill does not interfere with the vision of the operator because the work is always on the opposite side of the stone from the guard itself. Adjustment of the guard 15 15 axially of the hand engine or tip 11 is easily accomplished by simply sliding the clamp 13 along the tip 11 until the guard and pad are in position over the upper periphery of the stone or drill.

It will suilice to say in connection with the operation of the invention, that with the hand manipulating the handle 10, the guard ma be held against the tongue, for example, to old it away from the work and at the some time by slightly increased pressure on the guard, the felt 17 which has been moistened may be pressed against the periphery of the stone to reduce its surface heat. hen the work on one patient is completed the pad g0 17 is removed and the attachment which is made preferably of one piece of metal is readily sterilized and replaced upon the tip for further use.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. As an article of manufacture, an in tegral member having a spring arm, a split collar clamp for one end of the arm, and a guard holder for the other end of the arm comprising an arcuately curved plate disosed transversely of the arm and having its sides and one end bent downwardly and inwardly to form a channel to removably contain a moistening element.

2. In combination, an integral member having a spring arm, a clamp at one end of the arm, an arcuate channel shaped cross iece for the other end having a curved plate or the upper portion and a downwardly and inwardly bent end and sides, and means con taining moisture slidable between the sides and against the end of the cross piece.

In testimony whereof he has affixed his signature.

65 IRVING W. MARGULIES. 

